R&D Senior Scientist Job Listing at Kelly Services in Muscatine, IA (Job ID 10068630)

Description

Kelly® Science & Clinical is seeking a Senior Scientist, Innovation & Research & Development for a direct-hire (permanent) position with one of our partners in Muscatine, IA.

This role offers the opportunity to lead cutting-edge product innovation within the pet category, while also collaborating across human food and beverage product lines. The Senior Scientist will drive R&D initiatives from concept through commercialization, develop and test new ingredients, and mentor a high-performing team focused on delivering safe, high-quality, and effective products.

Function: Research & Development – Innovation
Job Type: Direct Hire (Permanent)
Schedule: Full-time
Location: Muscatine, IA (relocation assistance is available) 
Target Pay Rate: approximately $90,000-$120,000/year

Your Impact

• Lead the design, development, and execution of research projects through literature review, experimentation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Stay current on industry trends related to ingredients and ingredient functionality, identifying opportunities to expand pet litter and pet treat/supplement product lines.
• Design, oversee, and conduct experiments to develop and test new cat litter and pet food ingredients, analyzing performance, safety, and commercialization potential.
• Lead the execution of design, optimization, verification, troubleshooting, and validation of new and existing techniques and methodologies.
• Provide technical leadership from concept development through commercialization, collaborating with production, quality, regulatory, sales, marketing, and technical services.
• Foster a culture of innovation by introducing new product concepts, quality improvements, and productivity enhancements.
• Evaluate competitive products and market trends to identify opportunities for new products and applications.
• Investigate product and process challenges using data-driven scientific approaches to support development, scale-up, and ongoing production.
• Collaborate internally with manufacturing, procurement, and quality teams to ensure ingredient and product specifications are met.
• Collaborate externally with suppliers and third-party laboratories to expand research capabilities.
• Partner with quality and operations teams to troubleshoot customer complaints, product quality issues, and ingredient concerns.
• Deliver timely and accurate technical reports, analytical results, and recommendations to support innovation, benchmarking, and continuous improvement.
• Analyze and interpret data using statistical methods to drive sound conclusions and product recommendations.
• Maintain accurate and complete experimental records.
• Mentor and lead team members while promoting collaboration and accountability.

What You'll Bring

Core Experience:

• 5–10+ years of hands-on industry experience in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG).
  • Experience must be gained in a commercial, industry-based R&D environment (e.g., consumer products, food, pet, supplements, ingredients, or related CPG sectors).
  • While academic research experience (graduate, postdoctoral, or university laboratory employment) will be consider, this does not count toward the required years of industry experience.
• Proven success in new product development leading to commercialization.
• Experience leading and managing R&D and innovation teams, including direct reports.
• Strong project management, time management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific and innovation concepts to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Previous experience as a supervisor, as this position will have 1 direct report.

Technical Qualifications (Required):

• Bachelor of Science degree with 5–10+ years of relevant industry R&D experience.
• Experience working with ingredients and consumer products.
• Strong analytical, experimental design, and data interpretation skills.

Technical Qualifications (Preferred):

• Master of Science degree.
• Experience in pet products, food, supplements, or ingredient innovation.
• Background working with cross-functional manufacturing, quality, and regulatory teams.

Behaviors & Competencies

• Innovative thinker with strong scientific curiosity.
• Results-driven with a high level of accountability.
• Collaborative leader and effective mentor.
• Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving abilities.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, product-driven environments.
• Promotes a culture of quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan. Click here for more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

Why Kelly® Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we're obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it's about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It's the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It's the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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